Sure enough. The Blood Demons began to appear once again. Fortunately, there were only two places where they showed up. Are they wary of the expansion of the barrier of the Vatican Kingdom?
The locations where they appeared were recently reclaimed lands through an expedition. Since the barrier hadn’t expanded there yet, the Blood Demons could invade and attack anytime.
Hans immediately dispatched his comrades. Sending one person at a time felt a bit off, so he divided them into groups of three. Of course, that meant Hans would end up alone.
Hans insisted it was okay. He found it unsettling just to send someone alone. After his strong insistence that it couldn’t be otherwise, they eventually accepted it.
Only one person, Helia, opposed it until the end. No matter what anyone said, she argued that the safety of the Commander should come first. Nevertheless, Hans did not accept that opinion.
“Don’t worry. I’ll command from the middle point.”
One never knows when other Blood Demons might pop up. That’s why Hans planned to wait in the middle and support as the situation tilted one way or the other. That was the best strategy he could think of.
In battle, every second counts. Thus, support troops are needed to assist from behind. Of course, other races would help the Royal Knights as well…
“But, Sensei….”
“I won’t accept any more opinions.”
“……Ugh.”
“Sorry for raising my voice.”
Helia was speechless at Hans scolding, an unusual sight for him. It was instinctive; she didn’t want to be disliked by him. Seeing Helia’s reaction, Hans seemed to realize his mistake and quickly added,
“But I cannot compromise this time. You all are the most precious to me.”
“……”
“I don’t want to lose you all.”
“Commander, could that be…?”
Cluna trailed off, wondering if it was related to the Commander’s past, something she had been contemplating for a while now. It was about Hans’s hidden past.
Hans is obsessively focused on protecting his comrades. He’d even step out himself if the situation was dire. Initially, Cluna thought he was just a noble example of a knight.
Now, she was sure. Hans had lost comrades in the past. She’d heard about it from Helia once. Commander Hans had been holed up in some nameless refugee camp.
‘Did he collapse after losing his comrades?’
Even with a mind as strong as steel, the shock of losing comrades that he had been with until now would be immense. Cluna had seen many such people before.
And to Cluna, Hans seemed to be one of those types. Something must have happened in his past, causing him to lose comrades and fall into despair. Yet still, he rises again.
That’s why she sees a hero in his back. Cluna shook her head, not wanting to project the image of the legendary hero onto the Commander any longer. He is someone different from a hero.
‘If you all die, the Royal Knights will be finished!’
Ironically, Hans was thinking entirely differently. Of course, he did think about his comrades. But as Cluna speculated, he hadn’t lost anyone yet.
As misunderstandings deepened again, Helia had no choice but to step back. Loving and caring for her teacher, she reluctantly decided to follow his orders.
But then, what is this? This feeling of unease. Thoughts kept surfacing that she shouldn’t be apart from her teacher. Hiding her anxiety, Helia chose to step back for now.
The Royal Knights promptly moved to their respective positions. The Dwarf Republic was handled by Ruby, Yuren, and Helia, while the Human Kingdom was managed by Clara, Cluna and Bayard.
“Crystal ball. Didn’t expect to get such a convenient artifact.”
The crystal ball was a tool for making contact over distances. Looking at it, Hans recalled a cellphone. Though it was way more inconvenient and lacked many functions compared to a cellphone, it was something.
“Can you hear my voice?”
[Yes, Sensei.]
[It’s coming through clearly.]
[Aah~ Can you hear my voice?!]
[Clara, don’t yell like that.]
“Seems like it’s working well.”
Hans nodded, feeling relieved. Right now, he was positioned at a midway point between the Dwarf Republic and the Human Kingdom. Of course, with the distance involved, it would take time even if he rode a wyvern.
Fortunately, this time he had the teleport scroll obtained from the Dragon Lord. With this, he could go anywhere. Thinking so, Hans began to focus on commanding the operation.
*
As Hans had predicted, Blood Demons appeared in the Human Kingdom and the Dwarf Republic. Two appeared at each location, and just by being there, they were enough to intimidate the soldiers and knights.
However, the Blood Demons did not attack the soldiers. Instead, they simply stood there. Thanks to that, the comrades had an opportunity. The first to attack the Blood Demons was Clara with her arrow.
KABOOM! KRAKOW! With a loud explosive sound, the Blood Demon’s body was shredded upon impact. The demon looked shocked. Clara glared at it, recognizing the familiar face.
“Long time no see? You wretched little b*h?”
“Oh, isn’t that the young elf I met back then? Can’t even recognize you now?”
“Shut it. I’ll collect the life you couldn’t take back then.”
The Blood Demon that appeared before Clara was one of those who ambushed Lionheart Fortress. Her name was Raveka, a martial Blood Demon using a spear. She opened her mouth with a smile.
“Didn’t I already pay the cost? You took my arm.”
“Is that all it takes? Stop whining.”
“True, it wasn’t you who took my arm.”
“You seriously aren’t getting it.”
Seeing Raveka openly dismiss her, Clara felt anger rising and notched an arrow. If Cluna hadn’t stopped her, she would’ve rushed in recklessly.
“Calm down, Clara. The opponent is a Blood Demon.”
“That thing is more than enough for me to handle alone!”
“Yes, I’m sure. But the opponent is not just one.”
“Indeed, Guardian of the Forest, your reading is spot on.”
Next to the one-armed Raveka was the infamous Blood Demon, Hel Demon, whom Hans had faced before. He was still sporting a sly grin. Because of this, Clara grew even angrier.
Yet, seemingly aware of Cluna’s words, she didn’t lose herself and charge in. Clara knew that Hel Demon was among the strongest Blood Demons.
They must face the Blood Demons. If she acted out and ended up out of battle, it would burden the other two. She would never make things easy for the enemy.
“By the way, how’s Commander Hans?”
“I didn’t think someone like you would ask.”
“How disappointing. We were like life and death partners, you know.”
“No more conversations needed.”
Cluna dismissed Hel Demon’s words and drew her sword. Therefore, Hel Demon could only show a disappointed expression. He wanted to hear more. Especially about the Guardian of the Forest.
“Come on, can’t you spare a moment? I’d like to hear about the Guardian of the Forest.”
“No more stories to share.”
“Surely the tales of the legendary hero are something you’d want to hear as well?”
“……”
For a brief moment, Cluna hesitated. But it didn’t last long. Instead, her face grew cold. At the same time, roots burst from the ground and struck them.
WHAM!
“An ambush out of nowhere….”
“Do you think you can block with one arm?”
“?!”
Raveka hurriedly swung her spear. However, it was too insufficient to counter Bayard’s punch, which fell like a rock.
The punch landed squarely, knocking Raveka away in an instant.
Bayard was on her like a hawk. Her eyes glowed like a beast that just spotted prey. But Raveka, even though she was a Blood Demon, was still a Blood Demon.
Using her one remaining arm, she swung her spear, trying to keep up with Bayard’s onslaught. But she couldn’t help but be pushed back. Therefore, before Hel Demon could act, the mother-daughter duo moved.
“Raveka is a Blood Demon, yet you’re being too relaxed about this, aren’t you?”
“Bayard can handle a Blood Demon alone.”
“Now it’s just you left.”
“This… oh dear….”
Hel Demon clicked his tongue. Initially, he wanted to drag things out as long as possible. However, the comrades had become much stronger than he anticipated. Moreover, the soldiers of the Human Kingdom started to provide support.
Hel Demon clicked his tongue. He still couldn’t fully recover from his clone’s burst. If he wasn’t careful, he might really die here.
But it’s fine.
Four Blood Demon lives in exchange for Commander Hans’s life.
That was the conclusion the Blood Demons reached after much deliberation.
Well, if there really is an afterlife.
There, perhaps they could share even more stories.
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